About this lot

Description

circa 1988, the signed rectangular black and slate grey dial, 15mm diameter, with gold coloured quatre Roman numerals and sword shaped hands, signed but un numbered 6 jewel quartz movement calibre 66, the crown with synthetic sapphire cabochon end stone, case, 20mm diameter, verso with four screws, signed and numbered 3 66001 63268 with Convention marks and Swiss marks for Sterling silver, to the original lizard grain strap with 'C' pin buckle, presented in the original distinctive red leather and gold tooled case with outer card box, original swing ticket and red leather wallet containing the unsigned and undated guarantee documentsFootnote: ‘Les Must De Cartier’ (the Cartier you must have) were a range of timepieces and accessories first introduced by the famous Maison in 1977. The range included a new inexpensive ‘starting range' of watches which paid homage to the original ‘Tank Louis Cartier’ watch, introduced almost 60 years earlier, and was the company’s response to the huge influx of inexpensive quartz watches from Japan which were decimating the traditional Swiss watch industry at the timeOver a dozen different dial options and multiple strap colour combinations were originally designed, and Cartier's marketing team radically decided to introduce them all. They were immediately a huge success with fashionistas and trend setters of the day, who often bought two or three at a time to match their outfits. Indeed, they became strongly linked with haute couture after celebrated French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent prominently wore one in his iconic 1983 photo portrait.It was the first time that Cartier's ‘tank’ watch had been produced in silver, but the luxury look was maintained by plating the silver with gold - so -called ‘vermeil’ - and although the original models still had a mechanical movement, models with quartz movements were introduced in 1982.Today they are sought after by collectors in addition to the 'followers of fashion'.

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